2015 People of the Year
For the second year, HBSDealer editors produced a list of the year's major personalities and industry players. Here’s the big-story checklist that helped produce this year’s batch of influencers and achievers:
Respected careers? Check
Outside-the-box thinking? Check
Stick to your guns in the face of adversity? Check
Billion-dollar corporations? Check
Family businesses? Check
Consolidation? Check. Double check.
Charitable works? Check
Now, here are the mini profiles of the 2015 People of the year:
The Honoree: Bob Tellier
Back in May, Bob Tellier gave his first acceptance speech in Las Vegas. In January, he’ll be back at the podium for his second.
The Retiree: Bob Taylor
As the 70th Anniversary Do it Best October Market drew to a close in Indianapolis, so too did CEO Bob Taylor’s Do it Best Corp. career. He’ll be succeeded by executive VP and COO Dan Starr, effective Jan. 4.
The Fighter: Maggie Hardy Magerko
Standing on the precipice of 2016 with expansion plans up ahead, it might be easy to forget that Maggie Hardy Magerko was ignoring everyone’s advice to file for bankruptcy just a few years ago.
The Organizer: Don Devine
What do HBC Home & Hardware Products, Handy Hardware and plumbing leader Jones Stephens Corp. have in common?
The Merchant: Ted Decker
Since his promotion to Home Depot’s executive VP merchandising last summer, Ted Decker has been at the helm of a long victory stretch with no clear end in sight.
The Distributor: Don Hasson
With a landmark acquisition recently under his belt, Don Hasson is looking out at a long view of the House-Hasson legacy.
The Builder: Floyd Sherman
It’s hardly a question that Floyd Sherman is a man of the hour, if not the man.
The Leader: Peter Alexander
“We’re builders, not maintainers,” said Peter Alexander at the 2015 BMC National Meeting. “We’re leaders, not followers.”